And Carragher reckons he moved on after Benitez let his relationship with the Spaniard deteriorate having tried to sell him a year earlier.

The Liverpool legend told the Daily Mail: "Xabi stayed [in 2008] and his form surpassed the level of his spectacular first year. We finished runners-up to Manchester United in 2009 but when Real Madrid arrived on the scene for him, I became fearful he would go as the wounds of 12 months earlier had not healed.

"This is where I have my biggest problem. I had no issue with Xabi wanting to join Real — for Spanish players that is the pinnacle — but I couldn't understand why Benitez didn't hold out an olive branch to sort things out.

"Benitez had his best team in five years at Anfield. We were close to having a team that could win the Premier League and perhaps reach another Champions League final. Why did he have to continue the fight with Xabi? He had won the initial battle by getting the upturn in his form.

"What's more, Xabi was under contract, so Liverpool didn't have to sell. They proved that the same summer when not letting Javier Mascherano join Barcelona. But the writing was on the wall for Xabi and things were never really the same after he left."

Alonso won four trophies with Liverpool, including the Champions League in 2005.

He has since secured a further 12 honours at club and international level.